Day 1 Bangkok - Chiang Rai - Chiang Khong
Arrive in Bangkok and transfer for the domestic flight to Chiang Rai, on arrival into Chiang Rai take the drive to Chiang Khong where you can relax overlooking the Mekong and Laos.
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Day 2 Chiang Khong - Luang Namtha (B)
After immigration procedures, travel along the newly paved road for the 3 hour drive to Luang Namtha. En route visit the hill-tribe villages of Ban Laten, Kh'mu & Hmong
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Day 3 Luang Namtha (B / L)
Enjoy a one day gentle trek in the Nam Ha Protected Area through the minority villages. This trek takes you through the rice fields of Luang Namtha and into the forested foothills beyond. A reasonably gentle day's walk, the trail passes through the villages of Ban Don Kone, Ban Nam Hoi, Ban Piang Ngam and Ban Nam Ngean. As well as learning about the lifestyles of these different communities, you have the opportunity to observe traditional agricultural practices, community forest use, sericulture and silk weaving and also the distilling of Lao Lao (rice whiskey). A typical local lunch is eaten with some of the villagers in Ban Piang Ngam. The trek ends with a visit to Ban Nam Ngean and the remains of the Stupa That Poum Pouk before you are met and transferred back to Luang Namtha.
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Day 4 Luang Namtha – Nong Khiaw (B)
An early morning rise to visit the local market where you can see the local villagers with their traditional dresses selling & trading their locally produced goods. After breakfast, visit the Yao villages and the Laos-China border check point (Pangthong), before driving through some dramatic landscape to Nong Khiaw, visiting local H’mong and Khmu minority tribes along the way. Enjoy the afternoon to relax or take a stroll along the river bank or just relax and watch the sunset, overnight at a local guesthouse
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Day 5 Nong Khiaw – Luang Prabang (B)
After breakfast, take the long tail boat which takes about 5 hours along the Nam-Ou & Mekong Rivers to Luang Prabang, passing the local villages and touching the real life of the villagers going about their everyday affairs of fishing, trading & washing along the rivers. Stop to visit the Pak Ou caves and observe the traditional production of rice wine distillation in Ban Sanghai. Arrive in Luang Prabang early evening and check into your hotel, where you can relax and enjoy the calm of this French colonial city.
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Day 6 Luang Prabang (B)
A days excursion to see this World Heritage City and the former capital of Laos with its famous temples and their gleaming roofs, the royal palace, colonial architecture and its stunning mountain backdrop.
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Day 7 Luang Prabang (B)
Take a morning excursion to the stunning tiered waterfall of Kuang Si and take a dip in its turquoise water. Spend the afternoon relaxing in Luang Prabang or take a stroll through the night markets.
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Day 8 Luang Prabang - Vientiane (B)
Take the short flight to Luang Prabang - Vientiane. Enjoy an afternoon city tour of Vientiane; Wat Sisaket, the former Emerald Buddha house Wat Prakeo and the local Chinese Market of Sang Chieng. Enjoy sunset on the Mekong River.
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Day 9 Vientiane (B)
Start the day with souvenir shopping at the Morning Market; visit Buddha Sculpture part, the national symbol of Laos That Luang Stuppa. After lunch take in the views from the top of Patuxai Monument.
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Day 10 Vientiane - Hinboun (B)
Leaving from Vientiane we drive to Khamoune Province, which has many dramatic Karst Limestone formations, and over to the Nam Teun bridge area, continue to Hinboun where you will spend the night
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Day 11 Kong Lo Cave
Take a boat trip travelling through Khong Lo Cave, a 7.5km cave and the longest is Laos. Take a spectacular longtail boat ride through the cave using lamps for sight emerging at the other side. Arrive at the other side and take a short trek to a nearby local village. You can return to Hinboun by boat or for the more adventurous you can trek over the mountain for approximately 2-3 hours.
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Day 12 Hinboun - Savanakhet (B)
After breakfast transfer to Savanakhet about a 4 hour drive, spend the afternoon at leisure in Savanakhet.
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Day 13 Savanakhet – Tad Lo (B)
Travel south on Route 13 till the intersection and a pleasant drive along small scenic roads to Salavan and continue to Tad Lo, taking about 3 hours.
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Day 14 Tad Lo (B)
A day free to relax by the falls and watch the elephants being bathed there is a short walk to an ethnic village which you may want to go to about a 1 hour and a half return trip
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Day 15 Tad Lo – Don Daeng (B)
Travel back down the Bolaven Plateau stopping at Thateng ethnic village, Tad Yuang and Tad Fane waterfalls before seeing the coffee and tea plantations. Travel to Ban Muang where you will get the ferry to cross the river to Don Daeng Island.
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Day 16 Don Daeng - 4000 Islands (B)
Cross the river to the town Champasak and take a short transfer (8km) to the Pre Angkor Temple of Wat Phu. Continue south to the ferry point opposite the Island of Don Khong. From here take a 2 hour boat trip through the 4000 Islands to Don Khone, spending the night overlooking the old French railway bridge
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Day 17 4000 Islands (B)
Take a day trip to see the rare Irrawaddy dolphins, Liphi and Khon Phapeng Waterfall before returning back to your bungalows option to cycle or kayaks
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Day 18 4000 Islands - Xe Pian National Protected Area (B)
Transfer to Ban Kiat Ngong and the Kingfisher eco lodge spend the day relaxing and taking in the views over these natural wetlands
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Day 19 Xe Pian (B)
Take a 1 ½ hour elephant ride to the top of the ancient ruins of Phu Asa temple and take in the views, spend the rest of the day free at leisure
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Day 20 Xe Pian - Ubon - Bangkok - UK (B)
Free time till your transfer to Ubon for your flight to Bangkok and connecting flight to the UK
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